Catholic Engaged Encounter - Singapore

LOVE IS NOT A FEELING, IT'S A DECISION

We just spent one of the most fulfilling weekends of our lives as a couple last April 8 to 10, 2011. It was attended by more than 30 engaged couples in Singapore. I'm sure most of them will agree, we got more than what we expected. It may be boring at times, but undeniably it'll be helpful for US!

For those who may be curious what happens in Catholic Engaged Encounter sessions, I suggest just go for it. Have an open mind for whatever might happen, you won't regret it. It does not matter if you have not set the date yet, what matters is you are truly committed to each other.

In case you don't know, Catholic Engaged Encounter is an international marriage preparation course approved by the catholic church worldwide. It is a compulsary stay-in weekend, a time for the couple to be together, to talk honestly about their future lives. If you're based abroad, check with your church, if they can accept CEE certificate of attendance for the pre-cana seminar requirement. For more information, click here.

Pretty little things

Mini Burgers as hors d'oeuvre

Two-tiered black and white with yellow details as topper. I prefer all edible. :)

Parang champola lang! Good times! :)

Candy bar! :))) Me happy!

March wedding updates

Sharing wedding preparation updates as of today, so that everytime I visit our blog, I am reminded of the pending things to do, and suppliers to book.

List of suppliers booked :

1. Church : Magallanes church (booked, 60% dp paid)
2. Reception : Enterprise Center (booked)
3. Caterer : K by Cunanan Catering (booked, dp paid)
    Table Mock-up / Food Tasting Schedule - June 23 (food tasting done by our family, now it's my turn)
4. Photo : Jayson and Joanne Arquiza (booked, dp paid)
    Singapore Prenuptial photoshoot – done last march 22
5. Video : Phoeben Teocson (booked/dp paid)
    Need to provide song list
6. Hotel for preps : Makati Shangrila (to confirm booking)
7. Honeymoon : Shangrila Boracay (to confirm booking)
    Airfare for Honeymoon : via Cebu Pacific (booked, fully paid)
8. Lights and Sound system : Rejectkrew (booked, dp paid)
    Need to provide song list
9. Couturier : Joe San Antonio - bridal, mothers and female entourage gowns (booked, dp paid)
    measurements with Joe (done last feb4)
    first fitting – june 23
10. Flowers for entourage : Vatel Manila (booked bridal bouquet c/o w@w auction, pending revised costing)
11. Coordinator : Perfect 10 weddings (booked, dp paid)
12. HMUA for bride + moms : Razel Pong Niu (booked, dp paid)
13. Souvenir for guests – photobooth : Party Pics Live (booked, dp paid)
14. Invitations : Impress Prints by Calliope – (booked, dp paid)
      Design process on-going. Reply on invitation wordings, entourage list etc.
15. Bridal car : Honda Civic Type R – booked, will borrow from brother of the groom's friend, pay for gas only.

Pending Suppliers and Things to do :

1. Projector and Screen - check availability from reception venue, if none, will canvass
2. Emcee - canvassing, waiting for sample videos from prospective suppliers
3. String Quartet for church and reception - canvassing..
4. Groom's suit (c/o joseph) - will canvass suit makers
5. Suit for entourage (c/o our male entourage)
6. Church and Reception florist - will canvass more suppliers from Dangwa
7. HMUA for the rest of the entourage - will canvass
8. Rings – most probably by Love & Co, will buy around May 2011
9. Cake -  will canvass
10. Mobile bar - will discuss possible upgrade from K's package on June 2011, by juicebox.
11. Gifts for principal sponsors, male entourage, female entourage, flower girls and bearers - still thinking
12. Monograms, STD, WYB - finalizing...
13. Readers List, Song List and Offerors list - will do
14. Guest List - need to review first draft again
15. Reception Program & Reception Layout - will discuss with Darlene & K respectively.
16. Do remaining paperworks

Reminder to self : Finish pending ASAP, don't procrastinate!!! 5 months to go!

Our Prenuptial Photo Shoot in Singapore

I know I always apologize for not blogging as much as I want to, but this time I am really really busy with work and wedding preparations. I was overwhelmed by how exhausting it can get. Especially if you are based overseas. The agony of not being able to properly coordinate things, when some suppliers NEVER answer emails, ahhhh the frustations keep on coming!!

But then of course, I need to look at the bright side. I will marry the love of my life. I have to keep in mind that our wedding is only for a day, we need to prepare more for our marriage, which is for a lifetime.

We had our prenup last tuesday, March 22 here in Singapore. It was so much fun! Jayson and Joanne Arquiza scheduled their trip cum family vacation here, to accomodate 3 couples for an out-of country photo shoot. It's supposed to be a 3-hour shoot only, but it extended up to 5 hours. We had 3 location and 3 set of clothes, 1st in Emerald Hill, 2nd in Marina Bay Sands, and the last is at Sentosa Boardwalk.

This was taken from one of the shophouses in Emerald Hill, Orchard.

Our prenup experience with Jayson and Joanne Arquiza, reaffirmed my faith in them. They are so nice, down-to-earth, so much fun to be with. Most especially during the dinner after the shoot, we had the chance to spend more time together. It's like talking to a long lost friend! I bet on the wedding day itself, we will have so much fun! I'm so excited!

Casual or Formal???!

I've been thinking about this for so long, since the day we decided to have New York as our theme. Should we have an offbeat, casual brooklyn-inspired wedding? Or should we have an elegant, formal manhattan-inspired wedding?

I came across quite a number of New York weddings, mostly in Style me Pretty website, and I can honestly say I love the details of casual just as much as the formal! I'm so confused!!!!

See the contrast of the pictures below from Style Me Pretty.

Can we pull it off and have a mix of both casual and formal???!